CARNARIA. 91 
M. Savi has found a Mole(1) in the Appennines that is per- 
fectly blind, although otherwise similar to the common one; 
he calls it Z'alpa ceca. 
ConpyLura, Illig. 
In the animals belonging to this genus, the two kinds of dentition . 
peculiar to the Insectivora seem to be combined. In the upper jaw 
are two large triangular incisors, two extremely small and slender 
ones, and on each side a strong canine. In the lower one are four 
incisors slanting forwards, and a pointed but small canine. The 
superior false molars are triangular and separated, the inferior 
trenchant and denticulated. 
In their feet and the whole of their exterior they resemble the Mole, 
but their tail is longer, and what more particularly serves to distin- 
guish them from the former, is, that their nostrils are surrounded 
with little movable cartilaginous points, which, when they separate, 
radiate like a kind of star.’ 
One species particularly is found in North America Somlte 
eristatus, L.(2) (The Radiated Mole.) Similar to the Mole of 
Europe, the nose excepted, but having a tail more than double 
the length of that of the latter. 
Scaxoprs, Cuv. 
Teeth very similar to those of the Desmans, except that the small 
or false molars are less numerous; the muzzle is simply pointed, 
like that of the Shrew; their hands are widened, armed with strong 
nails fitted to excavate the earth, and exactly similar to those of 
Moles: in fact'their mode of life isthe same; their eyes are equally as 
small, and their ears quite as much hidden. The only species 
known is the 
S. aqguaticus; Sorex aquaticus, L.; Schreb. CLVIII. It ap- 
pears to inhabit a great part of North America, along rivers, 
(1) It is not perfectly blind ; the eye-lids have an opening, miough smaller than 
_in the common one. 
The existence of the optic nerve in the common Mole has been denied. I 
think I can demonstrate it throughout its entire course. 
(2) This is the Convyzuna of Iliger, but the characters he indicates, taken 
from the figure of La Faille, copied Buff.. Supp. VI, xxxvi, J, and on which he ~ 
_ composed the name of the genus, are false. M. Desmarets was the first who cor- 
rectly described the teeth of this animal. 
Dr Harlan describes a species; Cond. macroura, which has but very short points 
about the nostrils, and a scaly compressed tail. He associates with it as a third 
“ee the Tulp. longicaudata, Penn, Hist., No, 443, which he appears however 
no 'y Say MW 
i 
Ps 
